Electrocoating equipment

ABSTRACT

A hanger assembly for electrocoating equipment characterized by the use of a series of resilient metal bus springs, at ground electrical potential, which continually urge into engagement with the drive chain and/or the moving hangers for the parts during coating to maintain the hangers and the parts also at ground electrical potential.

United States Patent Inventors Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Robert L. Koch, [1;

Forest J. Greenwood, both of Evansville, Ind.

July 3, 1968 Sept. 21, 1971 Ashdee Corp.

Evansville, Ind.

ELECTROCOATING EQUIPMENT 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

us. (I 2041198 Int. Cl B653 49/00 Field of Search 204/297,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,l33,007 5/1964 Creese et al. 204/198 3,276,984 10/1966 Barringer et al. 204/l98 3,099,275 7/1963 Pianowski 204/ l 98 Primary Examiner.lohn H. Mack Assistant Examiner-Sidney S. Kanter Attorney-Warren D. Flackbert ABSTRACT: A hanger assembly for electrocoating equipment characterized by the use of a series of resilient metal bus springs, at ground electrical potential, which continually urge into engagement with the drive chain and/or the moving hangers for the parts during coating to maintain the hangers and the parts also at ground electrical potential.

PATENTEU SEP21 l9?! 3' 607,71 1

INVENTORS ROBERT L K0041 omssr J GREENWflOO BY ZZM AZZMJ ATTORNEY ELECTROCOATING EQUIPMENT The hanger assembly defining the invention has particular application to the type of electrocoating equipment described and claimed in the pending Koch, et al. U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 440,410, entitled ELECTROCOATING. In the arrangement of the aforesaid pending patent application, and most importantly, the article being coated, the hanger for the article being coated, and the tank, are at the same electrical polarity, i.e. at ground potential, where electrodes disposed within the tank are mounted in planes substantially parallel to the sidewalls of the tank are at an opposite electrical polarity.

In order to have the hangers for the parts being coated at the desired ground energy level, representing a simplified arrangement in contrast to various structures employed heretofore, i.e. a described minimization of components, and briefly, the invention provides the use of a series of bus springs in operative engagement with a moving conveyor which passes therebetween. The bus springs are mounted on a grounded bus bar, the latter being positioned on supporting framework which is associated with an l-beam along which the hangers move. In other words, with the use of the preceding arrangement throughout the length of conveyor over the electrocoating tank, a positive approach to securing the desired ground electrical energy level is accomplished, and with a minimum number of parts.

A better understanding of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein FIG. I is a top plan view, partly fragmentary, showing the invention in combination with a conveyor installation;

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation, partly in vertical section, showing further details of the invention; and,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a single bus spring utilized in the invention.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the figures, the invention is shown in combination with a hanger assembly 12 for a typical conveyor installation. In this regard, a supporting member 14, such as an l-beam for example, serves as a support for wheels 1211 forming part ofthe hanger assembly 12.

The hanger assembly 12 includes arms 12b between the free ends of which is positioned a vertical portion 120. The part to be coated (not shown) is hung onto the lower end of the verti cal portion 120. The hanger assembly 12 is moved along its desired path of travel through a drive chain 12d, the latter having a series of interconnected links.

A support bar 17 is typically mounted onto the top of the supporting member 14 of the conveyor, as by welding, for example. Two support members 19 extend downwardly from the support bar 17, where the support bar 17 is slotted so that the support members 19 may be moved laterally for optimum operative engagement, to be discussed herebelow.

Bus bars 20 are secured to the bottom of the support members 19, also by welding, for example. The bus bars 20 each support a series of resilient bus springs 22, the latter being in operative engagement with the conveyor drive chain l2d and/or another portion of the hanger assembly 12. The support bar 17, the support members 19 and the bus bars 20 are at ground electrical potential and, therefore, bus springs 22 are also at ground electrical potential.

In use, a series of bus springs 22 are employed on opposite sides of the conveyor for a length equal to, at least, the size of the coating tank in the direction of movement of the work. As mentioned, the slots in the support bar 17 permit movement of the bus s rin s 22 into engagement with the conveyor drive chain 12 an /or another portion of the hanger assembly 12.

In other words, the desired ground electrical potential is automatically and positively achieved, minimizing the part requirements necessary by prior electrocoating approaches.

The arrangement described hereabove is susceptible to various changes within the spirit of the invention, including, for example, reproportioning and the like. Thus, the above description should be considered illustrative, and not as limiting the scope of the following claims:

We claim:

1. In electrocoating equipment having a conveyor with a hanger assembly for parts to be coated, said hanger assembly comprising wheels, arms, a part carrier and drive means, at least one grounded support bar mounted proximate to said hanger assembly, and a plurality of bus springs secured to said grounded support bar, the free ends of said bus springs slidably contacting said hanger assembly for electrically grounding said hanger assembly.

2. The electrocoating equipment of claim 1 including a supporting member for said at least one support bar, and wherein said supporting member is laterally adjustable with respect to said drive means of said hanger assembly.

3. The electrocoating equipment of claim I where said plurality of bus springs are disposed on opposite sides of said conveyor.

4. The electrocoating equipment of claim I where said bus springs engage said drive means of said hanger assembly. 

2. The electrocoating equipment of claim 1 including a supporting member for said at least one support bar, and wherein said supporting member is laterally adjustable with respect to said drive means of said hanger assembly.
 3. The electrocoating equipment of claim 1 where said plurality of bus springs are disposed on opposite sides of said conveyor.
 4. The electrocoating equipment of claim 1 where said bus springs engage said drive means of said hanger assembly. 